Technology

Vinyl – one of the world’s oldest plastics

Vinyl is one of the world’s oldest plastics. Known in laboratories since the early 1900s, it was first commercially produced in the 1920s. At the time, it was merely thought of as an interesting substitute for natural rubber. In fact, one of the first commercial uses of vinyl was as a rubber substitute in electrical wire insulation, because rubber tended to dry out and crumble over time. In the 1930s, rigid vinyl was developed, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that it saw its first uses in the United States.

Ideally suited to construction

More than 60% of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin produced in the US today is used in building, construction and related industries. Commonly known as vinyl, its popularity in these markets can be attributed chiefly to its competitive, stable cost base and wide processing capabilities. Vinyl has many inherent characteristics that make it an ideal choice for a variety of building and construction applications.